A Holiday Message from UUA President Rev. Morales

As we enter into a new season of gratitude and giving, let's take a moment to reflect on our cherished holiday memories, and moments of seasons past. What are your most cherished holiday memories? I invite you to revisit those memories that warm your heart, that you treasure above all others.

As I've shared before, when I remember images of past holiday seasons, I recall special times in many places. In San Antonio as a child, in Northern California as a young adult, in Colorado as a minister. I think of homecomings-- my own, when I was young, then of my own children returning home. I recall church services with candle lights, singing, and warm embraces. I think of feasts with family and good friends.

Your memories will be different from mine, yet they'll also be the same. Our most cherished memories always involve being with people we love. Our special memories involve connecting and reconnecting.

When I think of my favorite memories, I'm also struck by what I do not remember. In this season filled with shopping, in both giving and receiving gifts, I realize that I don't remember what gifts I received years ago. I remember the people. I remember the looks on their faces. I remember the times we shared. I don't remember what we gave each other.

I realize looking back, that the people were the gifts. The gifts I remember were the love they gave me. The way they embraced me, and made me feel like I belonged, and I was special.

Our precious memories are wise, spiritual teachers. Our memories teach us about the deepest desires of our hearts. Our memories remind us of what deep down matters most to us.

There's another lesson our memories can teach us-- a lesson that's less obvious. If the love that we are given is what is precious, if the real gifts people have given us is themselves, then you and I are also gifts. You are a gift-- a precious, irreplaceable gift. When you express the love in your heart, you give something priceless.

But there's one more lesson our precious memories would teach us. You and I are a gift only if we give ourselves away. This holiday season, I have a special request to make. Give yourself away, take some time to renew relationships, reach out, share yourself generously, reach beyond your inner circle, reach out and love our wider community.

One of the great lessons all religions teaches us, is that we truly find ourselves only when we lose ourselves. When we reach out, and when we give ourselves away. Create new precious memories. Give yourself away. May this be a blessed holiday season for us all.